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KONG: SKULL ISLAND


sgtmonroe
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PREFACE: I'm not much into "monster" films, but something about this film peaked my interest:
So, while looking for "what I can't remember," I came across an image from the in-production film Kong: Skull Island. Anyway, it prompted me to search for more images and the plot. Not much forthcoming about the film, but the images of the "soldiers" got me very interested. I have tried to nail a specific time frame for the film's setting. J.K. Simmons was attached to the film, but dropped out, and he was quoted as saying it was set in 1971. This would ruin everything right away (as from the images you can see) with ALICE equipment all over the place! Other rumors are that it is "somehow" tied to the 1976 version of King Kong which would be perfect - meaning a mix of M-1956 and ALICE equipments would be spot on!
But, sadly, here a few quotes about the setting: "Set against the backdrop of 1970s Vietnam...", "The film actually takes place in the 70s during the Vietnam era...", and "takes place in “the Vietnam era” (read: the 1970s) and examines what “that post-traumatic stress [does] to people.” So, some of the quotes can be ambiguous...I'm hoping for the "immediate post-Vietnam War-era" as the setting! But, as we can all imagine...it appears it is going to be another "Hollywood-got-it-wrong." I am also getting, from the information available out there, that the plot (in part) appears to be an ALIENS "copy cat" in that a group of cocky soldiers go up against an underestimated enemy. Much like Cameron's ALIENS was a essay on the Vietnam War itself.
The credits (so far) show Kevin Kent as "military tech adviser." Supposedly, this guy is another one of those Navy SEALs that decided to try and advise for films (that last sentence was laced with sarcasm, FYI). Filming locations have been in Australia, Hawaii, and (surprisingly) Vietnam!
So here are some of what I have found along with my (probably unwelcome) comments:

 

Going somewhere...mixed M-1956 and ALICE equipments, hot weather coat/trousers, M1's with Mitchell covers, flamethrower(!), and M16s (other images show them to be a mix of "bird cage" and "three prong" (?))...

 

post-3045-0-45203800-1464671012.jpg

 

Still going...the actor with his head turned has an LC-1 e-tool carrier, AK (of some type), and a slung M-79...he also has a funky 40 mike mike bandoleer that is seen in more of the images below...

 

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Coming upon a "kong" skeleton...

 

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Samuel L. Jackson in the lead...appears to be the unit's "leader" with a flight suit, boonie hat, M14, and NO ammo or water...typical Hollywood...and some type of shouldered pistol.

 

post-3045-0-66745200-1464671052.jpg

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Filming something...the actor with the weird bandoleer...

 

post-3045-0-45501300-1464671751.jpg

 

Talking about something...ALICE everywhere...and helmet guys?

 

post-3045-0-28620300-1464671759.jpg

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post-3045-0-21260700-1464671869.jpg

 

Humping Skull Island...hot weather coat/trousers...

 

post-3045-0-44067400-1464671877.jpg

 

The actor with the modern carabiner! Ugh...c'mon! Nice M-69 flak jacket tho!

 

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Samuel L. Jackson again with NO ammo or water...ALICE pack in background and correct machete sheath!

 

post-3045-0-08389600-1464671903.jpg

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The modern carabiner again!

 

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Unit shot...guy kneeling at left has Spec 6 stripes...some have a SSI, but I am no good with identifying them. Maybe someone else can ID it or determine if it is a "Hollywood" SSI. Mix of "bird cage" and "three prong" flashhiders on the '16s...

 

post-3045-0-96713200-1464672077.jpg

 

Shot being filmed in Quang Binh, Vietnam with Tom Hiddleston...appears to be later in the film when the "unit" has probably been whittled away...M203 in the scene!

 

post-3045-0-09462300-1464672336.jpg

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Last couple...the first is from Samuel L. Jackson's Instagram...not an aviation guy...but the location is Hawaii (I believe):

 

post-3045-0-51978500-1464672450.jpg

 

Scene being filmed with one of the birds...

 

post-3045-0-15255100-1464672456.jpg

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willysmb44

Note the 'low carry' that people weren't doing with weapons in the 70s...

 

post-3045-0-96713200-1464672077.jpgIn the one group shot above, the guy in the rear far right is wearing what almost looks like a issue NASA flight jacket from the 60s and 70s...

I'd not heard of this movie until just now. Interesting concept.

More here, and it looks like 1971 is the target year for this film: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kong:_Skull_Island

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A friend of mine worked in the Vietnamese sets crew. He showed me lots of photos that I cannot share. It looks like there will be some interesting "Frankenstein" vehicles assembled from various military vehicles, indicating that the movie should not be taken too seriously.

I have heard that the shooting was marred by embezzlement from the Vietnamese production company (they basically stole most of the money that was supposed to pay the Vietnamese workers wages). Filming in Vietnam still is a quite complicated undertaking.

 

From what I have seen, historical accuracy does not seem to be the main concern for this movie (this is a King Kong movie after all!). But X-Men: Days of Future Past has shown us that it was also possible to be quite accurate, even in a fantasy environment (although the movie portrayed the end of the 1973 peace talks as an American defeat, whereas Hanoi had been basically reduced to ashes and the North Vietnamese were begging for a settlement; but that's another story).

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willysmb44

But X-Men: Days of Future Past has shown us that it was also possible to be quite accurate, even in a fantasy environment (although the movie portrayed the end of the 1973 peace talks as an American defeat, whereas Hanoi had been basically reduced to ashes and the North Vietnamese were begging for a settlement; but that's another story).

The Wolverine movie was hilarious as it was supposed to take place in the 70s and early 80s, yet everyone was wearing the most modern uniforms...
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  • 8 months later...

Anyone else seen the previews for the newest installment in the King Kong franchise. Under normal circumstances, I'd never think to post this on US Militaria Forum, but look at this:

kong-skull-island-cast.jpg

Jungle Fatigues, M16A1s AND XM16E1s with 20 round magazines, Alice Gear...good lawdy. Supposedly it takes place in 1973. They filmed some of it in Northern Vietnam.

 

Trailer:

 

Now, call me crazy, but I think I'm gonna go see it just for the gear. It comes out on March 10th.

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Topics merged. I am sure that the closer that we get to this being on the Big Screen, we will have additional comments.

 

"Apocalypse Now" meets "King Kong" is just too obvious of a comparison. But what the heck... this one is just for fun, isn't it?

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  • 3 weeks later...
ParanormalTrooper

Saw it yesterday before lunch... It was all right...

 

I'd really like to know how they had 4-5 helicopters on the ship but when they got airborne they had 10-12

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Saw it yesterday. I went as a Kong fan - and enjoyed it.

 

I'd suggest that it's Tropic Thunder Meets Jurassic World.

 

I think it could have been more fun had it steered closer to Tropic Thunder.

 

The film opens really strong - with a very cool main title sequence - and a dynamite first sequence taking place in WWII. Won't spoil anymore than that.

 

You gotta go along for the ride and try not to ask yourself too many hard questions in your search for operational or logistical or tactical 'logic'. (truly, where DID all those helicopters come from?)

 

As pointed out already, the gear and uniforms are a mess technically - loaded with anachronisms. But not really anything that makes it unwatchable.

 

The film sports some very fun, creative elements. Like a version of a PBR built from a derelict B-29. That alone was worth the price of admission. I'd like to see that at the next MVPA Convention.

 

Its a fun film. (But would have been nice to see a few swatches of Tiger Stripe!)

 

RL

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  • 2 weeks later...
northcoastaero

I recently saw the movie and, in my opinion, it was better than what I thought it

would be. I wonder if movies/TV shows such as Hell in the Pacific (1968),

Apocalypse Now (1968), The Last Flight of Noah's Ark (1980), Gilligan's Island

(1964-1967), and maybe Rocky (1976) had an influence in the creation of the film?

Interesting mix of the characters career fields, personalities, and cultures are

brought to Skull Island. We can discuss the flight clothing and equipment at a later

date, I guess. Enjoy the flick!

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I saw the movie yesterday. Although the art direction is great, in my opinion it is very poorly written. The characters are all stereotypes, it is hard to relate to any of them. If I had been able to open my skull and place my brain on the seat next to me, I would probably have enjoyed it better.

 

I will not attend to sum up the uniforms/gear mistakes, it would take too long. Surprisingly, the crowd, MPs and guards in Washington were quite realistic though.

 

My biggest problem is the 6 helicopters which become 12 after taking off, and 2 more showing up later. Also, at one point there are very few men left, on foot, with light weapons. And all of a sudden they are able to set up a .50 machine gun, and we see a flamethrower operator appearing out of nowhere.

 

I had a weird feeling when Samuel Jackson looks at the contents of his desk drawer early in the movie: it looks like some of the medals are color photocopies? Perhaps it is just me.

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Saw it. Liked it. Don't go looking for authenticity, but if you can take off the collector/historian hat then imho you'll enjoy it. It ain't Shakespeare...but it ain't bad!

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  • 4 months later...

I finally saw it last night.

The one thing that bugged me about the WW2 pilot coming home, he was wearing a WW2 summer class A uniform.

Where the heck would have gotten that in 1973?

A surplus place wouldn't have had it, and I guess he'd have been considered still in the USAF until they could have mustered him out. He would have been either in civilian clothes or a USAF uniform with likely an elevated rank for his time on the island.

And NO WAY it could have been a shock to her for him to just show up like that...

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BILL THE PATCH

I just rented it the other night, I was thinking the same thing, where did he get a Ww2 uniform? And to top it off it had a 15th a/f patch, they didn't fight on the PTO. But that's Hollywood. But it kept me entertained.

 

Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk

 

 

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